Pirelli marks OE milestones at Geneva show

GENEVA, Switzerland—Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. is marking a couple of original equipment milestones at the 2014 Geneva Auto Salon—380 OE homologations for the company's P Zero line in the past seven years and 170 for the Cinturato P7 in five years.

The number of OE homologations for the P Zero has grown by 90 since the 2013 Geneva show, Pirelli said, including several prestige models at this year's expo, such as the Ferrari California T, Lamborghini Huracan and McLaren 650S.

Other new models with the latest Pirelli tires at the show include the Audi TT, S1 and S3 Cabriolet, the latest-generation BMW X5, Mercedes C Class and S600 and Jaguar F Type, XFR and XJR.

Each homologation is adapted to the individual needs of specific models, Pirelli said, meaning it is no longer correct to talk about a single P Zero or Cinturato as original equipment, but instead of a family of tires from which numerous versions are derived.

While there are numerous iterations of the P Zero line, Pirelli said the P Zero family is designed with base characteristics, such as the use on nano-composites or the asymmetric tread profile, that yield “extraordinary” road-holding on straights and through corners, high standards of safety thanks to reduced wet and dry braking distances, driveability and comfort.

The P Zero is available in sizes ranging from 25 to 50 series and in rim diameters from 17 to 21 inches.

The Cinturato P7 family offers car makers an ecologically minded high-performance tire for cars with medium to large-displacement engines. Pirelli claims the P7 reduces rolling resistance by 20 percent, yielding reduced fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.

At the Geneva show, Italian car maker Lamborghini has fitted its latest supercar, the mid-engine Huracàn, with P Zeros in sizes 245/30ZR20 at the front and 305/30ZR20 at the back. The Huracàn boasts acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of more than 200 mph.

The tires are distinguished by an L on the sidewall to denote the brand they belong to, Pirelli said, and were developed using simulation technology derived from Formula 1.

Fellow Italian car maker Ferrari S.p.A.'s turbocharged mid-engine California T rolls on 19- and 20-inch P Zeros, front and rear, and marked “F101” on the sidewalls. The tires offer reduced rolling resistance to fit in with the California's higher mileage claims.

McLaren Automotive's mid-engine 650S rolls exclusively on P Zero Corsa Asimmetrico tires—235/35 R19 at the front and 305/30 R20 at the rear—and marked “MC1” to denote the McLaren fitment.

For McLaren, Pirelli worked to refine the profile of the front tires to optimize aerodynamic performance and, with a redesigned sidewall, was able to reduce the tire's drag coefficient by 5 percent.

McLaren also offers a P Zero option tailored toward comfort and day-to-day driving as well as a winter option, the Sottozero 3.